How to Be a Leader summary

In any given society or institution, you’re likely to encounter a lot of people who want to lead. 

The idea of directing others, or of playing an important role in community affairs, seems to appeal to something deep and instinctive within us. And yet, our underlying motivations – the reasons we want to lead – often differ from person to person.

Some people want to lead because they can’t stand taking orders. Others just want to pass the time. If you find yourself drawn to leadership roles, stop for a moment and consider your real motivations.

The key message here is: You should want to lead for the right reasons.

The decision to lead should never be taken lightly. 

In Plutarch’s world, the most important political unit was the polis, or city-state. Although some orders came from Rome, the imperial capital, many decisions were still made within the polis in the first century CE. That meant that electing capable, motivated officials to positions of power was of great importance.

But what was it best for such leaders to be motivated by? And what forms of motivation were undesirable?

Well, according to Plutarch, the budding leader should be motivated by a sense of duty and honor – but not an excessive desire for glory and public acclaim.

Why not? Because politicians who are motivated by glory make for tumultuous and unstable societies. Instead of making rational and moderate decisions, leaders grow reckless in their pursuit of fame, and act rashly – often to the detriment of the cities they’re meant to be serving.

Plutarch chose a Roman politician named Cato the Elder as an example of true leadership. When the citizens of Rome wanted to erect a statue in his honor, Cato refused; he said he’d rather have people asking why there was no statue of him than asking why there was one.

Unlike other, self-aggrandizing politicians, Cato was motivated by the welfare of Rome – not by the desire to improve his own reputation. That’s an attitude that all leaders should emulate.